Gauge



Filed- July 9. 192e 2 sheets sheetl J. C. TAPP April 5, 1927.y

GAUGE Filed July 9. 1926 2 Sheets-SheetZ a i ql@ l--- M llllllllllllllllll II Patented Apr. 5, 1927.

JOHN C. TABP, OF BROOMFIELD, COLORADO.

GAUGE.

Application filed July 9, 1926.

This invention relates to improvements on a gauge for measuring the level oi2 a liquid in a container and more particularly to a gasoline gauge of a type commonly used on automobiles as described by me in the application tiled August 22, 1921i, and distinguished by Serial No. 733,574.

The general object of the invention is a Vgauge which is simple in construction and operation and can be installed at a low cost.

For a full understanding ot the invention and its mode of operation I make reiter-ence to the accompanying drawing` and specilication, in which:

Figure 1 is a combination ot' several ot the views oimy above mentioned application partsvof which are shown in section.

Figure 2 is a sectional view ot my invention as mounted in the liquid container and on the instrument board havinlfnr the improve ments over my original application embodied therein.

Figure 3 is an elevation ot the `auge as mounted upon the instrument board.

Figure d is atop plan view ot' the gauge and the several liquid containers.

For the purpose or' more clearly describing the improvements ot my present application reference is had to my aforementioned application of which the following is a short description.

1 represents the pressure cylinder ot my hydrostatic n'ieasuring and indicating' ysaune. The cylinder 1 is connected at its bottom l to the supply pipe 5, while at the top 8 it is connected by means oit' a pipe 9 to the instrument board 10. The "position ot the cylinder 1 relatively to the tank 6 is so chosen that so long as there is any gasoline in the tank, there is a hydrostatic pressure tending to force gasoline into the cylinder 1`r the top ot the cylinder 1 being disposed a substantial distance above the bottom ot' the tank 6. Thus the level of gasoline in the cylinder 1 will rise and fall in proportion to the amount ot liquid in the tank and the air or gas in the cylinder will be under a pressure proportionate thereto. The pipe or air lin-e 9 is connected to the inlet 11 of a container 13 which is in communication at its bottom with an additional container 31. The container 31 is provided with a closure, preferably in the form of a plug 32 adapted to be displaced in vertical direction. To this end, the plug may be screw-threaded to (zo-operate with a similar Serial No. 121,316.

screw thread on the interior ot the container 31.

rlhe inlet 11 into the container 13 is preti crably eiiected through a stopper or cap 12 through which also extends a pipe L1 'from near the bot-tom ot the container upwardly into the gauge tube 23. The pipe 14. may be sealed against ingress of air by means oit a packing gland 15, including' suitable packine' material in the recess 16.

The gauge glass Q3 preferably set into corresponding recesses Q4A and Q5 in blocks Q() and 21A interconnected by rodsI 2Q which make screw-tlncaded engagement with one of the blocks, as tor instance, the bottom block 2O and provided with nuts 2T at the other end tor drawing the blocks toward each other upon the glass. In the top block 21A is provided a vent hole Q6 thru which air may pas-s into and out'o't the `glass tube The pipe 14k extends thru a perforation 19 in the block 20. I preferably in'ovide the container 13 and 31 an integral unit with a common partition wall providing' the communication The tube is set, behind and exposed through the slot oi a scale 23 graduated in suitable units. The scale is attached to the instrument board by means of screws, while the grange may be supported on the scale by means ot screws extending into the blocks 20 and 21A. i

In my improved gauge covered bv the `present application the improvements will be numbered consecutively start-ing with the reference numeral 35.

in carrying' out these improvements if mount the cylinder 1 within the container (i and provide the same with an inlet spout mounted in the inner lower portion thereof and communicating` with the inside ot the said container 6 near the bottom. lhe bottom portion 2 ot the said cylinder 1 is provided with a two-way valve 3b which communicates with the said container thru the spout @ne ot the said valve openings communicates with the interior ot the cylinder 1 while the other opening` communicates with the supply pipe 5 which connects with the carburetor (not shown). The upper end 3 of the cylinder 1 is connected to a pipe E) the opposite end ot which engages a cap 3T which serves to close the container' 13 which in this instance is preferably made ot glass. A base 33 is provided and has the container 13 mounted thereon. Gaskets 3S) are provided on either end ot the said container 13.

The said gaskets 39 seal the ends of the container 13 thru the medium of a tube 40 which is pierced With a sight slot 41 and threaded at its ends into the base 38 and cap 37. The reservoir container 31, in this instance, is constructed in the form oi a tube which is formed independent ot the container 13 ortube 4() which encloses the same, and is threaded into the base 38 and onto a gasket 42 adapted for sealing the said container 31 against leakage thru its threaded joint with the said base 38. A passageway 43 is formed in the base 38 and comn'runicates with the interior of the container' 31 and a tube 44 located in the said container 13 for supplying the said container 13 with a liquid, the use of which will be later explained. A plug 45 formed with a` handle 4G threadedly engages the interior ot the said container 31. A gauge plate 47 is cast integrally with the base 38. The gauge glass 23 is mounted between the blocks 2O and 21A which are secured to the gauge plate 47. The said gauge glass 9.3 is provided with gaskets at each end which are located in the recesses 24 and 25. The said blocks 2() and 21A are further connected by means of a tube 48 pierced with a sight aperture 49 which is mounted over the said `gauge glass 23 for protection, as Well as forming a leakproot joint between the said gauge glass and the blocks 20 and 21A. The said block 1A is provided with a vent hole 26 thru which air may pass into and out of the said gauge glass 23. The block Q0 is provided with a perforation 19 thru which the pipe 14 communicates at its one end with the gauge glass 9.3. The opposite end oit' the said pipe 14 communicates with the container 13 by means of a passageway 49 termed in the base A tace plate 5() is mounted upon the dashboard (not shown) over the tubes 48 and 40 to finish oil the appearance of the same. The said face plate 50 is pierced with the sight slots 59 and 41.

In use, the gauge 23 with its associated containers 13 and 31 is mounted thru the dash-board for the convenience of the driver. The said containers 13 and 31 are tilled with a colored non-freezing liquid for the purpose of registering` the quantity of liquid in the liquid container 6. According to the an'lount ot gasoline in the container 6 the air pressure in the line 9 will force more or less of the liquid in the container 13 up thru the pipe 14 into the gauge glass so that the level ot' the liquid will indicate on the scale 28 the amount ot' the gasoline ,in the container (j. The plug 45 may be adjusted from time to time toI bring the level of the liquid to the correct scale indication shown thru the side slot 41. The inlet spout 35 conveys the gasoline into the two-way valve 36 which distributes it into the cylinder 1 and the carburetor line 5. As the gasoline in the container 6 is used the gasoline in the cylinder 1 drops in proportion, thus reducing the hydrostatic pressure in the line 0 and container 13 and permitting the liquid forced into the gauge 23 to recede into the container 13. The top of the tube 44 stops a. little short of the neutral liquid level of the container 13 so that when hydrostaticv pressure is applied upon the liquid inthe said container 13 there will be no possibility ot the liquid receding into the container 31 in a compressed form under the said hydrostatic pressure thereby insuring the more perfect operation of the device.

While I have herein described a certain specific method ot constructing and assembling the elements of my invention, it is understood same may be varied in minor details, not departing from the spiirt of my invention as defined in the appended claims.

I claim 1. Apparatus for indicating the amount ot gasoline in the supply tank of an automebile, comprising a vessel the bottom of which is disposed a substantial distance` below the bottom ot the tank and the top ot' which is disposed a substantial distance above the bottom oi the tank, a tube connection between the bottom of the tank and thev bottom ot the vessel, an indicating tube mounted on the dash board ot the automobile, a liquid container adjacent the indicating tube, a reservoir positioned in juxtaposition to said liquid container', a tube connection from the bottom of said liquid container to the bottom ot' said indicating tube, a` tube connection from near the top ot' said liquid container to the bottom ot said reservoir, and a tube connection hetween said vessel and the top ot the liquid container.

Q. Apparatus according to claim 1, Wherein the tube connection from the bottom of the reservoir to the liquid container comprises a tube communicating with said reservoir and extending medially and upwardly the interior ot said liquid container, said tube having its terminus near the top of said liquid container; and a sight slot provided in the walls ot said liquid container whereby the terminus of said tube may be observed.

In testimony whereof I attix my signature.

JOHN C. TAPP. 

